Brilliant Outward Bound Experience

In December last year I was lucky enough to be selected for the Otago Community Trust Outward Bound Scholarship for 21 days at the top of the South Island in Anakiwa (Marlborough Sounds). 

We got split into our different watches (groups) of 13 - 14 that we would be spending our course with. I had people from all around New Zealand in my watch which included Wellington, Auckland, Oamaru and the Dunstan Area. We also got our phones and electronics taken off us for the 3 weeks that we were there. It was definitely hard at the start but we got used to it as the course went on.

The course included many activities and overnight adventures over the 3 week period and involved rock climbing, Waka Ama, coasteering, sailing, tramping and kayaking. Along with this, every morning we had to run 3km followed by an open water swim as training for the half marathon which we ran on the penultimate day of the course. One of the harder parts of the course was the solo experience which was 2 nights in the bush. This is when the instructor drops everyone off at a different solo site and we each got given minimal food rations, sleeping bag and a small tarp to camp out. I think this was a good opportunity to slow down and reflect on ourselves. There were many highlights for myself throughout my time spent at Anakiwa, which included reaching the summit of Mt Riley, completing the half marathon and completing my solo. 

Overall I really enjoyed this experience. I think that it was both physically and mentally challenging but I made some real good mates, and would strongly recommend it to anyone interested in attending.